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• Dissatisfaction persists over development center’s move
By Linda Green
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Ongoing questions persist in the relocation of a human development center to the Boys & Girls Club.
The McDuffie County Human Development office moved its operations from White Oak Road to the club on Pecan Avenue effective Jan. 16.
The move has prompted questions and concerns from parents who utilize the development center, from employees, and from neighbors.
Concerns about the move first arose during the Board of Commissioners’ Dec. 20, 2011 meeting and then again during the commission’s Jan. 17 meeting. Commissioner Sammie Wilson expressed concern about procedures, communications between affected parties and about discussions never evolving into a vote for the center to move to the Boys & Girls Club..
The chief complaint was that the space at the club is too small to accommodate the human development center’s offices. Three people are employed by the center, whose auspices are under county management.
Another problem concerned interfacing with the programs at the Boys & Girls Club. Like the club, the center provides homework help and other children’s services. The center also provides energy assistance and a food pantry.
The move to 221 Pecan Avenue will give the employees a more healthy environment in which to work and give clients a larger place to receive services.
“The building is in a terrible state of disrepair,” said Charlie Newton, chairman of the board of commissioners. At a Dec. 20 meeting, he told the audience that the development center’s building is invested with mold and has a rodent problem. Both are potential health hazards.
The Boys & Girls Club provides a myriad of developmental services to disadvantaged children. It offers daily programs that promote health, social, educational, vocational and character development to youth ages 6-18.
To read more on this story, see the Wed., Jan. 25, edition of The McDuffie Progress.
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